Lateral vision football helmet

ABSTRACT

The present invention is transparent, high-impact window panels fused within sidewalls of a football helmet. The transparent portion on each sidewall maintains as one piece with the helmet. The transparent sidewalls increase lateral vision for the wearer, thus enhancing performance and safety for the wearer as well.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to safety helmets used in sports and expanding the peripheral field of vision of the wearer.

2. Description of Prior Art

The use of protective headgear is known in the prior art.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,936 to Thomas discloses transparent windows that clip and snap within sidewalls of the helmet.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,517 to Douglas discloses transparent windows within the sidewalls of the helmet.

U.S. Pat. No. D330,951 to Kamata discloses a design within the helmet where sidewalls curve at eye level of the wearer toward the back portion of the helmet.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,673 to Gilson et al. discloses eyewear having a transparent side piece.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The use of protective headgear is required for participants in most sporting events. One problem with the protective headgear is restricted lateral vision. The disadvantages of the prior art is the transparent side windows being added to a helmet by a bar, clip or snap as a means of attachment. The transparent window and the helmet are independent elements and could break apart on impact.

It is an object of the present invention to provide lateral vision to sidewalls of a standard protective helmet worn when participating in contact sporting events. It is a further object that the transparent portion of the sidewalls are fused within side portion of the helmet when manufactured, thus maintaining the helmet as one solid piece with no break-away portion and/or attachable/detachable parts for full safety to the temple, jaw, ear and eye areas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a right side elevational view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the lateral vision portions of the sport helmet.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view and

FIG. 3 a is an exploded view of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The outer and inner walls of the present invention are shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Transparent windows 22 allow wearer of the safety helmet 20 to experience enhanced lateral vision. The helmet 20 and the windows 22 are joined together during manufacturing process, making them one piece for maximum protection to the wearer. FIG. 3 shows the front of the helmet 20 and the transparent windows 22 are the same width. Transparent windows 22 are flush with the top and bottom 24, adjoining edges within sidewall of the helmet 20. FIG. 3 a is an exploded view of transparent windows 22, showing specific location and being the same width as the sidewalls of the helmet 20. 

1. the transparent, tapered, high-impact sidewall window panels fused together with the opaque portion in both sidewalls of a sports helmet can improve lateral vision, thus enhancing performance and safety in contact sports, comprising; said transparent tapered window panels are fused together at the time of manufacture with said opaque sidewalls of a sports helmet wherein; 1a) width of said helmet sidewalls and width of the said transparent windows are the same and have no attaching and/or movable portions of parts wherein; 1b) said transparent window panels extend from the front edge of said sports helmet rearward toward the back of the helmet ending at and above the back portion of the ear opening parallel to the eyes of the wearer whereby lateral vision is improved for wearer, also resulting in improved performance and safety wherein; 1c) said transparent panels are located in the opaque sidewalls of a sports helmet that traditionally contain minimal padding in the area between the temple and jaw, therefore will result in no interference with existing safety padding for maximum protection for the wearer during contact sports. 